As of February 2025, El Salvador had the highest prisoner rate worldwide, with over 1,600 prisoners per 100,000 of the national population. Cuba, Rwanda, Turkmenistan, and the United States, rounded out the top five countries with the highest rate of incarceration. Homicides in El Salvador Interestingly, El Salvador, which long had the highest global homicide rates, has dropped out of the top 20 after a high number of gang members have been incarcerated. A high number of the countries with the highest homicide rate are located in Latin America. Prisoners in the United StatesThe United States is home to the largest number of prisoners worldwide. More than 1.8 million people were incarcerated in the U.S. at the beginning of 2025. In China, the estimated prison population totaled 1.69 million people that year. Other nations had far fewer prisoners. The largest share of the U.S. prisoners in federal correctional facilities were of African-American origin. As of 2020, there were 345,500 black, non-Hispanic prisoners, compared to 327,300 white, non-Hispanic inmates. The U.S. states with the largest number of prisoners in 2022 were Texas, California, and Florida. Over 160,000 prisoners in state facilities were sentenced for rape or sexual assault, which was the most common cause of imprisonment. The second most common was murder, followed by aggravated or simple assault.

The South American nation with the highest prison population rate in 2024 was Uruguay, with 449 prisoners per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by Brazil, with 389 prisoners. The country in South America with the lowest prison population rate was Ecuador, with 179 per 100,000 persons.

The National Prisoner Statistics (NPS) data collection began in 1926 in response to a congressional mandate to gather information on persons incarcerated in state and federal prisons. Originally under the auspices of the U.S. Census Bureau, the collection moved to the Bureau of Prisons in 1950, and then in 1971 to the National Criminal Justice Information and Statistics Service, the precursor to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) which was established in 1979. From 1979 to 2013, the Census Bureau was the NPS data collection agent. In 2014, the collection was competitively bid in conjunction with the National Corrections Reporting Program (NCRP), since many of the respondents for NPS and NCRP are the same. The contract was awarded to Abt Associates, Inc. The NPS is administered to 51 respondents. Before 2001, the District of Columbia was also a respondent, but responsibility for housing the District of Columbia's sentenced prisoners was transferred to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and by yearend 2001 the District of Columbia no longer operated a prison system. The NPS provides an enumeration of persons in state and federal prisons and collects data on key characteristics of the nation's prison population. NPS has been adapted over time to keep pace with the changing information needs of the public, researchers, and federal, state, and local governments.

The Central American nation with the highest prison population rate was El Salvador, with over 1,000 prisoners per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by Panama with 522 prisoners. The lowest prison population rate of the region was found in Guatemala, with 123 prisoners per 100,000 people.

At the beginning of 2025, the United States had the highest number of incarcerated individuals worldwide, with around 1.8 million people in prison. China followed with around 100,000 fewer prisoners. Brazil followed in third. The incarceration problem in the U.S. The United States has an incredibly high number of incarcerated individuals. Therefore, the incarceration problem has become a widely contested issue, because it impacts disadvantaged people and minorities the most. Additionally, the prison system has become capitalized by outside corporations that fund prisons, but there is still a high cost to taxpayers. Furthermore, there has been an increase in the amount of private prisons that have been created. For-profit prison companies have come under scrutiny because of their lack of satisfactory staff and widespread lobbying. Violent offenses are the most common type of offense among prisoners in the U.S. Incarceration rates worldwide El Salvador had the highest rate of incarceration worldwide, at 1,659 prisoners per 100,000 residents as of February 2025. Cuba followed in second with 794 prisoners per 100,000 inhabitants. The incarceration rate is a better measure to use when comparing countries than the total prison populations, which will naturally have the most populous countries topping the list.

The Central American nation with the highest prison occupancy rate, as of April 2025, was Guatemala, when the level stood at almost 300 percent of its official capacity. Nicaragua followed with 177.6 percent of occupancy level. The lowest prison occupancy rate was found in Belize, which, with 67 percent, was the only country whose prison system was not overcrowded. That year, El Salvador had the highest prison population rate in Central America.

As of 2022, Black people were more likely than those of other races to be imprisoned in the United States. In that year, the rate of imprisonment for Black men stood at ***** per 100,000 of the population. For Black women, this rate stood at ** per 100,000 of the population.

Adult correctional services, custodial and community supervision, average counts of adults in provincial and territorial programs, five years of data.

In 2024 Turkey had the highest incarceration rate among European countries, at 356 prisoners per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by Azerbaijan, which had an incarceration of 264. The country with the lowest incarceration rate in this year was Liechtenstein, which had 20 people in prison for every 100,000 inhabitants. Germany had one of the lowest rates of 72 when compared with other major European countries such as France and England & Wales, which had rates of 111 and 145 respectively. The Russian Federation has in previous years been the country with the highest incarceration rate in the Council of Europe's data, however, as the country was removed as a member of the council in 2022 due to their invasion of Ukraine, data for Russia is no longer available.

Correctional facilities have suffered from a mixture of policy changes at the federal and local levels, coupled with broader support for rehabilitative solutions to the broader issue of crime. The implementation of a ban on private prison contract renewals with the DOJ in 2021 cut off a considerable revenue stream across BOP and USMS clientele. While the order was reversed in January 2025, facilities were forced to pivot to alternative revenue streams, namely community centers and rehabilitative service provision. Demand is uniquely separate from the broader economic climate, since revenue growth is primarily influenced by crime and incarceration rates. Falling approval of for-profit prisons also influenced statewide restrictions on private correctional facilities. Revenue fell at a CAGR of 3.6% to an estimated $9.0 billion, including an estimated 3.5% decline in 2025 alone, as profit reached an estimated 12.4%. Decreasing national crime and incarceration rates have been the primary contributing factors influencing revenue. A sharp 7.6% collapse in the national incarceration rate over the past five years was influenced by a conscious effort by the US government to reduce prison overcrowding. Since private correctional facilities charge fixed, per-diem rates based on occupancy, a reduction in the inmate population not only lowers demand for facility, but also raises fixed costs that eat into their profit margin. However, stricter immigration enforcement, caused agencies such as ICE to contract correctional facilities to provide detention and processing centers for new arrivals. In February 2025, major company GEO Group signed off on a contract with ICE for a new processing facility in Newark, New Jersey, providing a crucial revenue stream that offset larger losses. Moving forward, correctional facilities face an uncertain future. Continued slippage in public opinion regarding for-profit prison systems will force facilities to invest capital in rehabilitative services aimed at reentry and reduction of recidivism. Reputational problems stemming from reports of inadequate medical care, excessive use of solitary confinement and unsanitary conditions may lead to financial penalties or full-on closures. A continued retreat in national incarceration and crime rates will continue shrinking the potential marketplace for correctional facilities. Revenue is expected to sink at a CAGR of 3.6% to an estimated $7.5 billion over the next five years.

The Delaware Department of Correction (DOC) operates four prison facilities (Level V), eight quasi-incarceration community corrections facilities that serve as violation of probation centers or work release centers (Level IV), and five Probation & Parole locations (Levels III, II, and I). Offenders may also be supervised while on home confinement, or the offender may be supervised on an administrative basis only while restitution is paid. Some offenders are physically housed at the Delaware Psychiatric Center while in the custody of the DOC. This dataset provides a snapshot of the offender population in custody or under supervision at these various locations on the last day of each calendar month. A count of how many offenders by the year, month (snapshot of last day of month), county, type of institution, institution name, sentence type, gender, race, and ethnicity can be produced by selecting the desired variable in each category. Questions about offender data can be directed to the DOC’s Planning & Research Unit. Instructions for submitting a data request can be found here: http://www.doc.delaware.gov/datarequests.shtml. The DOC’s annual reports (http://www.doc.delaware.gov/annualReport.shtml) also contain a variety of information and data.

The prison population in Chile increased from 2023 to 2024 by roughly ****percent. The South American country amounted to ******* prisoners in 2022. From those, **** percent were men, while only **** percent were women.

The Republic of Ireland's incarceration rate in 2024 was 90 per 100,000 people, compared with 95.7 in 2010.

Smart Prison Cell Monitoring Market Outlook

According to our latest research, the global smart prison cell monitoring market size reached USD 2.34 billion in 2024, driven by a robust adoption of advanced security solutions and digital transformation initiatives in correctional facilities. The market is projected to expand at a CAGR of 12.8% from 2025 to 2033, reaching an estimated USD 6.92 billion by 2033. This strong growth is primarily attributed to the increasing need for real-time monitoring, enhanced inmate safety, and the integration of AI-powered analytics in prison management systems. The market’s expansion is further propelled by the rising investments in smart infrastructure and government mandates for improved prison security worldwide.

One of the most significant growth factors for the smart prison cell monitoring market is the escalating demand for advanced security protocols in correctional facilities. With rising incidents of contraband smuggling, inmate violence, and escapes, correctional authorities are increasingly adopting integrated monitoring solutions that leverage video surveillance, biometric systems, and environmental sensors. These technologies not only ensure real-time tracking and monitoring of inmates but also provide actionable insights through data analytics. The integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning into monitoring platforms has further enhanced the ability to predict and prevent security breaches, making prisons safer for both inmates and staff. Additionally, the growing emphasis on rehabilitation and inmate well-being has led to the deployment of health monitoring solutions, which track vital signs and behavioral patterns, thereby reducing the risk of medical emergencies and self-harm incidents.

Another key driver fueling the market’s growth is the global trend toward digital transformation in public sector infrastructure. Governments across developed and emerging economies are prioritizing investments in smart city projects, which include modernization of correctional facilities with state-of-the-art monitoring systems. These initiatives are often supported by public-private partnerships, wherein technology vendors collaborate with prison authorities to implement scalable and interoperable solutions. The adoption of cloud-based monitoring platforms has also gained momentum, offering correctional facilities greater flexibility, lower operational costs, and enhanced data security. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of remote monitoring technologies, as authorities sought to minimize physical interactions and improve health safety standards within prisons.

A third major growth factor is the evolving regulatory landscape that mandates higher standards of inmate safety and facility management. Stringent government regulations, particularly in North America and Europe, require correctional facilities to implement advanced surveillance and access control systems. Compliance with these regulations has become a critical priority for prison administrators, driving the demand for comprehensive smart monitoring solutions. In addition, increasing public scrutiny and advocacy for human rights have compelled authorities to adopt transparent and accountable monitoring practices. This has led to the integration of digital evidence management, automated incident reporting, and advanced analytics into prison management systems, further boosting market growth.

From a regional perspective, North America currently dominates the smart prison cell monitoring market, accounting for the largest share in 2024, followed by Europe and Asia Pacific. The United States, in particular, has been at the forefront of adopting cutting-edge prison technologies, supported by substantial government funding and a high rate of incarceration. Europe is witnessing steady growth, driven by modernization initiatives and strict regulatory frameworks. Meanwhile, the Asia Pacific region is emerging as a lucrative market, fueled by rapid urbanization, increasing prison populations, and rising investments in smart infrastructure. Latin America and the Middle East & Africa are also expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period, as governments in these regions focus on upgrading their correctional facilities to meet international standards.

Cuba is one of the Caribbean nations with the highest prison population rate as of August 2024. According to the latest data available at that time, there were *** prisoners per 100,000 inhabitants on this island, followed by the Bahamas, with *** prisoners per 100,000 population. In some Caribbean countries, over ** percent of the prison population were foreign nationals.

This article presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of academic research on resilience and motivation among prisoners over a period of more than a century (1912–2024). It systematically maps publication trends, key contributors, thematic developments, and intellectual structures using Scopus-indexed literature. The study reveals a notable growth in scholarly output since the early 2000s, especially from countries like the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany.Through co-authorship networks, keyword co-occurrence, and citation analysis, the review identifies four major thematic clusters:Psychological resilience and copingAddiction rehabilitationPost-incarceration reintegrationDecision-making in correctional settingsThe findings indicate a paradigm shift from punitive to rehabilitative correctional models, emphasizing psychological support and motivation-building strategies. However, the study also highlights gaps in cross-cultural research, gender-sensitive approaches, and post-release interventions.Ultimately, this review calls for greater global collaboration and interdisciplinary research to inform more effective policies and evidence-based rehabilitation programs aimed at reducing recidivism and promoting the successful reintegration of former inmates into society.

Norris, Samuel, Pecenco, Matthew, and Weaver, Jeffrey, (2024) “The Effect of Incarceration on Mortality.” Review of Economics and Statistics 106:4, 956–973.

Adult correctional services, custodial and community supervision, average counts of offenders in federal programs, Canada and regions, five years of data.